Two-sided applicator with reactive or complementary chemistries

ABSTRACT

The invention described herein provides an applicator for applying a substance, the applicator including an application side and an opposed reactive side, the application side including an application substance and the reactive side including a reaction substance, wherein the application and reaction substances react with each other when the application and reactive sides of the applicator are sequentially wiped on a target surface. Also provided is a method for treating a target surface, the method including contacting the target surface with an application side of an applicator including an application substance, whereby the application substance is deposited onto the target surface; and thereafter contacting the target surface with a reactive side of the applicator including a reaction substance, whereby the reaction substance reacts with the application substance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As consumers become more sophisticated, they look for new cleaningproducts to make their lives easier. While certain combinations ofsubstances may provide a benefit, they may not be conveniently availableto consumers in a usable form because they are reactive with each otherin storage. Therefore there is a need for a product form that allowsnovel cleaning substances to be safely and reliably provided to theconsumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has now been discovered that certain reactive substances may beprovided in a single wiping product that provides unique cleaning orcleaning-related benefits.

The invention disclosed herein solves the problem of complicatedreactive chemistries by providing an applicator for applying asubstance, the applicator including an application side and an opposedreactive side, the application side including an application substanceand the reactive side including a reaction substance, wherein theapplication and reaction substances react with each other when theapplication and reactive sides of the applicator are sequentially wipedon a target surface.

The present invention also provides an applicator for applying asubstance, the applicator including an application side and an opposedreactive side, the application side including an application substanceand the reactive side including a reaction substance, wherein theapplication substance is deposited on a target surface, and wherein thereaction substance supplements the action of the application substancewhen the application and reactive sides of the applicator aresequentially wiped on the target surface.

The present invention also provides an applicator for applying asubstance, the applicator including an application side and an opposedreactive side, the application side including an application substanceand the reactive side including a reaction substance, wherein theapplication and reaction substances are deposited on a target surfacewhen the application and reactive sides of the applicator aresequentially wiped on the target surface.

The present invention also provides a method for treating a targetsurface, the method including contacting the target surface with anapplication side of an applicator including an application substance,whereby the application substance is deposited onto the target surface;and thereafter contacting the target surface with a reactive side of theapplicator including a reaction substance, whereby the reactionsubstance reacts with the application substance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an applicator according to the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As used herein, the term “applicator” means any flexible structureadapted to be used in conjunction with a hand or a tool to clean asurface, or to apply or remove a substance from a surface.Advantageously, the structure may be generally flat and have distinctopposing sides. A chemical or other substance may be included with theapplicator. The applicator may take the form of a mitt, a wipe, a toolcover, or any other suitable form. The portions of the structureincluding the different substances may be provided with visual indicia,such as color coding, to provide the user with guidance for proper handplacement, or to determine in what order the sides are to be used.

As used herein, the term “mitt-like” means an applicator adapted toreceive and fully or partially enclose a person's hand or a tool whenthe structure is being used. It may or may not have a separate openingother accommodation for a thumb and/or one or more fingers for stabilityor control during use. However, the structure may also be generallycylindrical, somewhat like a sock, such that the opposing sides resultfrom the position of the user's hand within. In such a case, the portionof the structure contacting the palm of the hand becomes one side of themitt-like applicator and the portion of the structure contacting theback of the hand becomes the opposing side. The mitt-like applicator canbe sized to fit over one or multiple fingers.

As used herein, the term “wipe” means an applicator adapted to be heldby a user or a tool but that is not adapted to receive and fully orpartially enclose a person's hand when the structure is being used.

As used herein, the term “sequentially wiped” means one side of theapplicator contacts a target surface and thereafter the other side ofthe applicator contacts the same target surface with sufficientpressure, friction, movement, or other mechanism to cause reactivesubstances from both sides of the applicator to mix and in some casesreact with each other. Most typically, each time a target surface iswiped with the applicator, the reactive substance associated with theside of the applicator in contact with the target surface is transferredto the target surface being wiped.

As used herein, the terms “target surface” and “surface” refer to thesurface upon which the applicator is acting and treating. The term“surface” and its plural generally refer herein to the outer or thetopmost boundary of an object. Surface may refer to that of skin, hair,fur, clothing, upholstery, countertops, floors, walls, windows, tables,appliances, bathroom fixtures, automobiles, or any other object that mayrequire or accommodate bathing, cleaning, removing something from, orapplying something to its surface. The term is used to distinguish fromand avoid confusion with references to the various surfaces of theapplicator.

FIG. 1 illustrates an applicator 10 in accordance with the presentinvention. A mitt-like applicator is used herein as a non-limitingexample of the applicator 10 of the present invention. In other aspectsof the present invention, the applicator 10 may be a wipe, a pad, a toolcover, or any other suitable form. More specifically, the mitt-likeapplicator 10 is shown including an application side 15 and an opposedreactive side 20.

The applicator 10 includes an application side 15. The application side15 may be of any suitable shape, but is preferably generally planar andis further preferably generally rectangular or oblong. The applicationside 15 has a perimetric edge 25 extending around the application side15. In one aspect of the present invention, the application side 15 isgenerally the size of a human hand held flat on a surface. In anotheraspect of the present invention, the application side 15 is generallythe size of the four fingers of a human hand. In still another aspect ofthe present invention, the application side 15 is generally the size ofa human finger. The applicator 10 may be manufactured in any shape or ofany dimensions, including as a pad or wipe sized to fit best in achild's hand, an adult hand, or on any cleaning implement. In general,the application side 15 may be of any suitable size, with the sizepreferably selected to be suitable for the intended use of theapplicator 10. In other aspects of the present invention, the applicator10 may be manufactured into other shapes such as a mitt or square orround pads or mitts, etc. In another aspect of the present invention,the application side 15 may be pleated, layered, or of any othersuitable structure if additional surface area or liquid holding capacityis desired.

The application side 15 includes a base sheet. Suitable materials formaking the application side base sheet include non-woven syntheticfibrous webs, such as meltblown, spun-bond, coform, cellulosic webs,woven webs, and any other suitable material. Plastic film or othersuitable materials may be used to form one or more barrier layers on theinside of the applicator 10 to prevent premature contact betweensubstances or to protect the user's hand from contact with substancesduring use. The application side 15 may be a stretch-bonded laminate(SBL) with pre-stretched elastic filament and meltblown material withone ply of spunbond material on each outer surface and a basis weight ofapproximately 70 gsm, but any suitable absorbent material may be used.SBL and other composite nonwoven elastic webs are further described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,657,802 to Morman. In one aspect of the presentinvention, the application side 15 includes a dry embossed 110 grams persquare meter (gsm) coform laminate available from Kimberly-ClarkCorporation. In other aspects of the present invention, the applicationside 15 may include any suitable nonwoven or woven materials or polymersheeting of any suitable basis weight, and may be constructed from ormay include an absorbent material. The material of the application side15 may act to protect a user's hand from contacting the target surface.

The applicator 10 also includes an opposed reactive side 20. Thereactive side 20 is preferably of the same general size and shape of theapplication side 15, although the size and/or shape of the reactive side20 may be selected to be different from the size and/or shape of theapplication side 15 based on the intended use of the applicator 10. Thereactive side 20 has a perimetric edge 30 extending around the perimeterof the reactive side 20. The reactive side 20 may be manufactured fromthe same material as the application side 15, or from a differentmaterial. In another aspect of the present invention, the reactive side20 may be pleated, layered, or of any other suitable structure ifadditional surface area or liquid holding capacity is desired.

In another aspect of the present invention, one or both of theapplication and reactive sides 15, 20 may be breathable to allow air tocirculate through the applicator 10.

The application side 15 is coupled to the reactive side 20. One of theapplication and reactive sides 15, 20 is positioned to overlie the otherof the application and reactive sides 15, 20, such that the perimetricedges 25, 30 of the application and reactive sides 15, 20 generallyalign. A portion of the perimetric edge 25 of the application side 15 isattached to the perimetric edge 30 of the reactive side 20 to form aseam 35. The seam 35 formed may be at the perimetric edges 25, 30, orthe seam 35 may be adjacent or inward from the perimetric edges 25, 30.The perimetric edges 25, 30 may be attached by adhesive, ultrasonicbonding, heating, sewing, or by any other suitable method. The seam 35around the periphery not only connects the application side 15 and thereactive side 20, but also prevents the substance(s) in one side frommigrating to the other side, particularly if the substances in one orboth sides are liquid or are in solution.

In another aspect of the present invention, the applicator 10 may beformed as a seamless tube with adequate physical separation forming asufficient barrier between the substances. In a related aspect, patchesof base material may be coupled to the applicator 10, where each patchincludes a substance.

Coupling the application side 15 to the reactive side 20 forms theapplicator 10 with a bag-like structure having an outer surface 40 andan interior space 45 with an applicator opening 50. The applicator 10may be formed such that the interior space 45 is sized to accommodate ahuman hand, a portion of a human hand, a bathing tool, or any othersuitable item. Because of this bag-like design, the applicator 10 may beturned inside-out by a user such that the previous interior space 45becomes the new outer surface, and the previous outer surface 40 becomesand defines the new interior space. In turning the applicator 10inside-out, any dirt or other substances captured on the previous outersurface 40 of the applicator 10 becomes captured within the new interiorspace of the applicator 10.

By virtues of the design and materials chosen for the applicator 10, theapplicator 10 is preferably designed to be disposable. In this case,disposable means that the applicator 10 is disposed of, rather thancleaned, after use.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention of the applicator 10,the application side 15 and the reactive side 20 are two portions of thesame piece of material. One of the application and reactive sides 15, 20is folded over the other of the application and reactive sides 15, 20and a portion of their perimetric edges 25, 30 are coupled by any meansdescribed herein to form the applicator 10. In this aspect, a seam 35 orequivalent structure is still needed to prevent the substance(s) in oneside from migrating to the other side, particularly if the substances inone or both sides are liquid or are in solution.

The applicator 10 may include one or more thumb holes (not shown). Inone aspect of the present invention, the thumb holes are formed asopenings in the seam 35 between the application and reactive sides 15,20. Positioning thumb holes on opposite sides of the applicator 10allows the applicator 10 to be used on the user's right or left hand. Inother aspects of the present invention, one or more thumb holes may bepositioned or formed in one or both of the application and reactivesides 15, 20. The thumb holes may also be partially formed with a cutoutin one of the application or reactive sides 15, 20.

In an alternative aspect of the present invention (not shown), theapplicator 10 may include a thumb space at least partially separatedfrom the interior space 45 and sized to accommodate a human thumb. Athumb space helps to stabilize the applicator 10 in use by helping toprevent rotation of the applicator 10 around a user's hand. In anotheralternative aspect of the present invention, the applicator 10 may alsobe manufactured with a second thumb space (not shown) on the opposingperimetric edge 25 of the applicator 10, such that one thumb space maybe used when the application side 15 is used, and the other thumb space(not shown) may be used when the reactive side 20 is used.

In other aspects of the present invention, the applicator 10 may includeadditional and alternative features such as a reinforcing cuff, anaccess flap, an elastic cuff mechanism, and those features described inco-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,542,566, 5,616,201, and 5,649,336,incorporated herein by reference

The applicator 10 also includes an application substance included on orin the application side 15, and a reaction substance included on or inthe reactive side 20. The application and reaction substances may reactwith each other to form a third substance, or the application andreaction substances may be complementary to each other to provideenhanced or supplemented cleaning, treating, or other use. Thesubstances included with each side of the applicator 10 may bedistributed in any manner suitable for transfer to a target surface. Forexample, the substances may be evenly distributed within a side or maybe provided in a zoned distribution. Suitable means for incorporatingthe substances into or onto the application and reactive sides 15, 20 ofthe applicator 10 include spraying, dipping, printing, dusting, and anyother suitable means.

In other aspects of the present invention, one or more substances may bedisposed in a burstable bladder 60 or a bladder 60 that may be opened orunsealed. The bladder 60 may be of any suitable design, including thosedisclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filedon Dec. 13, 2005 and titled “Device with Internal Pull Tab Activation.”The bladder 60 may be associated with a particular side or sides by anysuitable means, and may be positioned within the interior space 45;between one or both of the application and reactive sides 15, 20 and abarrier layer associated with that side; or on the outer surface 40associated with one or both of the application and reactive sides 15,20.

The applicator 10 may be packaged in various manners depending on theintended use of the applicator 10. If the substance on one or both ofthe application and reactive sides 15, 20 is a liquid, then that surfaceor those surfaces may be covered by a film material to preventinadvertent substance transfer from that surface or those surfaces. Inanother aspect of the present invention, if only one of the applicationand reactive sides 15, 20 includes a liquid substance, then theapplicator 10 may be folded, for example in half, such that the sideincluding the liquid substance is on the inside of the fold to preventinadvertent transfer of the liquid substance. In another aspect of thepresent invention, the edges of the folded applicator 10 may be sealedto prevent escape of a liquid substance.

In use of the applicator 10, a user places the applicator 10 on theuser's hand or on a tool, or the user holds or dons the applicator 10.The user wipes the application side 15 of the applicator 10 on a surfaceto be cleaned or treated, thereby depositing the application substanceon that surface. The user then wipes the reactive side 20 of theapplicator 10 on the same surface such that the reaction substance mayreact with or supplement the application substance. The application andreaction substances may react on the surface or on the reactive side 20of the applicator 10. In some aspects of the present invention, watermay be added by the user to the applicator 10 to dissolve or otherwiseactivate one or both substances prior to wiping.

As described above, the substances may be impregnated or saturated intothe applicator 10. The application and reactive sides 15, 20 distributeand/or mix the substances. The applicator 10 may be adapted to enableone of two cleaning or treating schemes. The first relies on activationchemistry: substances from the application and reactive sides 15, 20 mixto activate a cleaning or treating composition that has a singlecleaning or treating purpose. The application and reactive sides 15, 20keep the substances separate until used. The second cleaning or treatingscheme enables the ease of application for the completion of taskchemistry using substances that are complementary: the application andreactive sides 15, 20 include substances that are complementary and whenused together produce more effective cleaning or treatment results ifapplied sequentially rather than together.

In one exemplary aspect of the complementary treatment scheme, afragrance completes the cleaning job for a consumer by leaving a cuethat the task has been completed. Separating the fragrance from aneffective, efficient cleaning substance means the cleaning task iscompleted faster with the same “complete task” cue as that obtained witha longer and more arduous cleaning process. The faster completionresults from the cleaning substance not needing to compete with thefragrance and from the cleaning substance not becoming at leastpartially deactivated by contact with the fragrance while in storage orshipping. In any of these aspects, the cleaning substance may be one ormore of a bleach, an oxidation agent, a reduction agent, ananti-microbial agent, or any other suitable cleaning substance.

In the first cleaning or treating scheme, a variety of differentreactive chemistries may be utilized. Such reactive chemistries employ asubstance on one of the application and reactive sides 15, 20 that willreact with a substance on the other of the application and reactivesides 15, 20 to create a third substance that will be effective forcleaning, treating, or other use. Examples of such reactive chemistriesinclude, without limitation, the following:

(1) Heat generation for comfort or cleaning. The use of two substancesthat react exothermically provides heat when the reactive side 20 iswiped over a substance deposited by the application side 15. Inparticular, a weak acid powder, such as citric or malic acid, may beprovided by one side and a weak base, such as sodium bicarbonate, sodiumborate, potassium phosphate or sodium citrate, may be provided by theother side to form a solution. The acid and base are balanced to raisethe solution temperature for maximum cleaning.

(2) Activation of a peroxide bleach for effective bleaching at ambienttemperatures. For example, a monopersulfate peroxygen bleaching compoundand a bicyclic or tricyclic diketone bleach activator will reacttogether in aqueous solution to form a dioxirane bleaching composition.Alternatively, a peroxygen bleach may be activated by pH adjustment bycreating a pH shift that enhances the bleaching effect of hydrogenperoxide. Hydrogen peroxide lacks adequate storage stability to be aviable consumer product at low pH when sold in an aqueous solution. Aweak acid, such as citric acid, may be employed in the form of a drypowder on the side of the applicator 10 opposite the side includinghydrogen peroxide to enhance the bleaching power of the hydrogenperoxide at the target surface. In another example, a dry bleachingcomposition particularly useful for low temperature applications isprovided in which generation of hypochlorite by reaction between aperoxygen bleaching agent and a chloride salt is promoted by an aromaticdiol or oxidized aromatic diol activator. Preferred activators are inester form and provide hypochlorite generation at levels of less thanabout 20 ppm for at least about the first two minutes followingdissolution of the compositions in an aqueous solution, but rising toeffective bleaching levels within a reasonable time thereafter. Theinitially low hypochlorite level assists in the functioning of laundryadditives, such as fabric brighteners.

(3) Generation of other bleaches for effective bleaching at ambienttemperatures. For example, a chloroisocyanurate disposed in dry form onone side of the applicator 10, when combined with a buffer on the otherside of the applicator 10, generates sodium hypochlorite in situ whenwater is added to the applicator 10. In this example, the applicator 10with the chloroisocyanurate typically needs to be sealed prior to use tokeep humidity out. In another example, sodium hypochlorite can becombined with a buffer, generally at a pH of between about 6.0 and 7.0.The buffer pH may be lower so long as chlorine gas is not generated bythe combination. This combination generates hypochlorous acid in situ.Forming hypochlorous acid in situ is advantageous because it has a veryshort shelf life, and because it is an effective hard surface cleaningsubstance and disinfectant.

(4) Generation of small amounts of chlorine dioxide or chlorine for insitu bleaching. For example, sodium chloride may be oxidized in anaqueous solution to form chlorine dioxide. In one exemplary aspect ofthe present invention, one side of the applicator 10 includes a solutionof sodium chlorite while the other side of the applicator 10 includes anoxidizing substance either as a solid or as a solution. Whether or not aparticular reaction of an oxidizing agent and a metal will occurspontaneously may be predicted by reference to a standard table of halfcell potentials such as that in CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics(CRC Press). If the sum of the potentials of the oxidation half-reactionand the reduction half-reaction is positive, then the reaction willoccur spontaneously.

Limited conversion of sodium chlorite to chlorine dioxide is desirablefor most applications in which the applicator 10 is intended for hardsurface sanitation to avoid release of significant amounts of chlorinedioxide gas into the air. The level of chlorine dioxide generated in thecleaning solution delivered by the applicator 10 at any given time ispreferably from about 5 ppm to about 120 ppm, such as from about 10 ppmto about 100 ppm, and such as from about 10 ppm to about 60 ppm. Inadditional, a limited conversion of chlorite to chlorine dioxide extendsthe length of time for which the applicator 10 may produce and sustainlevels of chlorine dioxide within the aforementioned range. In generalit is preferable that the applicator 10 sustain a level of chlorinedioxide of between 10 ppm and 120 ppm for a period of from about 30seconds to about 15 minutes or more. The applicator 10 may sustain alevel of chlorine dioxide such as from about 45 seconds to about 12minutes, or such as from about 1 minute to about 10 minutes.

(5) General cleaning and air freshening. One side of the applicator 10may include an all-purpose cleaning substance that may be acidic, basic,or including an oxidant. The other side of the applicator 10 may includea microencapsulated fragrance ingredient for air freshening. In use, theionic strength of the cleaning solution causes the fragrance ingredientto migrate to the air/liquid interface and bloom. This would provide anefficient and effective delivery of fragrance without excessive loss ofintensity due to dilution in the cleaning solution. The encapsulatedstorage of the fragrance ingredient avoids any issue of fragranceincompatibility with the cleaning solution. In this aspect, one side ofthe applicator 10 includes an aqueous cleaning solution, such as acleaning solution including a surfactant and water, while the other sideof the applicator 10 includes an encapsulated fragrance ingredient. Theencapsulate material is water soluble. A surface is wiped with the moistside of the applicator 10 and transfers moisture to the surface. Whenexcess moisture is wiped with the other side of the applicator 10, theencapsulating material dissolves and the fragrance is released. Inanother aspect, the fragrance encapsulation is not water-soluble, andthe fragrance side of the applicator 10 includes rinsing water. In thisaspect, mechanical force produced by wiping with the fragrance sidecauses the encapsulation to rupture, thus releasing the fragrance. Ineither case there is a better chance of getting a desirable fragrancewith less fragrance ingredient.

(6) Visual indication of disinfection. One side of the applicator 10 mayinclude a peroxide or hypochlorite bleach and the other side may includea weak dye that decolorizes in a short time when exposed to the bleach.The disappearing dye color gives the user a timer for disinfectantaction. Disinfectants need a span of time while wet on the surface toactually achieve desirable bacteria kill levels. Instructions and timingwith respect to disinfectants are government-regulated. A user-friendlytiming system resident in the applicator 10 helps to ensure thatgovernment regulations are met by the user without the user needing toknow about the requirements or even the existence of such regulations.

(7) Epoxy finishes. Many light-, moisture-, and oxygen-initiated epoxyreactions provide stain repellency or other protective finishes. Insimplistic terms, an epoxy is typically formed by combining two epoxyreactants and then applying the mixture to a surface. One epoxy reactantmay be provided by one side of the applicator 10 and the other epoxyreactant may be provided by the other side of the applicator 10. Ambientconditions would provide the initiator for the reaction.

In another aspect of the present invention, the epoxy applicatorincludes a catalyst system. Both epoxy reactants are provided on oneside of the applicator 10 and the catalyst element is provided on theother side of the applicator 10. As the concentration of the catalyst isnot important to the epoxy reaction product other than to affect therate, variation in the amount of catalyst applied may have less of animpact on final quality than if the two epoxy reactants are suppliedseparately. See following reference: Blank, Werner J., et al.,“Catalysis of the Epoxy Carboxyl Reaction”, Presented at theInternational Waterborne, High Solids and Powder Coatings Symposium,Feb. 21-23, 2001.

In one exemplary aspect, one side of the applicator 10 may include a 1:1molar blend of a glycidyl ester functional resin such as GMA 207-SAavailable from Reichhold Chemical and a carboxyl functional acrylicresin such as Joncryl 819 available from Johnson Polymer. The resins maybe applied to the applicator 10 without additional substances or may beincorporated with an appropriate volatile organic solvent. The reactiveside of the applicator 10 may include a catalyst such as 2-ethylhexylamine, 2-ethylimidazole, or a similar compound. When the applicationside 15 of the applicator 10 is wiped on the surface the glycidyl esterfunctional resin and the carboxyl functional acrylic resin aretransferred to the surface. When the surface is subsequently wiped withthe reactive side 20 of the applicator 10, the amine catalyst istransferred to the surface to catalyze the reaction between the glycidylester functional resin and the carboxyl functional acrylic resin.

Within the scope of the present invention is further treating the targetsurface with heat to assist the crosslinking reaction of the epoxy. Forexample, a small metal part may be wiped with the application andreactive sides 15, 20 of the applicator 10 and then placed in a curingoven at a temperature of from about 100° C. to about 200° C. or more tofacilitate the crosslinking reaction. In general, the epoxy reactantsinclude a diglycidyl ether or other chemical compounds includingoligomeric species including two or more unreacted epoxy groups.Bisphenol A glycidylether and its oligomers are especially preferred.Another class of commonly used materials is glycidyl ester resins,especially preferred are the glycidyl ester functional acrylic resins.These substances may be homopolymerized or reacted with active hydrogenincluding compounds such as carboxyl or anhydride groups. Bothhomogeneous and heterogeneous crosslinking may occur without a catalystbut may be minimized by appropriate control of storage conditions suchas pH. Catalysts are used to facilitate the crosslinking reaction. Suchcatalysts include amine and phosphonium functional compounds such as2-ethylhexyl amine, Bis-(2-ethylhexyl) amine, tetrabutylphosphoniumbromide, 2-ethylimidazole, tetramethyl guanidine, andbenzyltrimethylammonium bromide. In addition, various metal salts knownin the art may also be used. Especially preferred are zinc and zirconiumsalts such as zinc acetate, zinc acetyacetonate, and zirconiumoctonoate.

(8) Foaming reaction for suds generation. Any substance combinationreleasing carbon dioxide or harmless gas during the reaction may beused. For example, sodium bicarbonate, calcium carbonate or sodiumbicarbonate embedded with citric acid powder may be used to boostfoaming in a surfactant system. The foam may be made to dissipatequickly, but would still provide an active cleaning signal to the user.The application side 15 of the applicator 10 includes an acid or basesubstance in conjunction with a foaming surfactant. The reactive side 20of the applicator 10 includes a substance having a pH more acidic ormore basic than the substance on the application side 15 of theapplicator 10. Whether a basic or acidic system is used on theapplication side 15 of the applicator 10 depends upon the natures of thesurfactant, of the acidic or basic species, and of the surface beingcleaned. In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, a basicspecies is selected from the group of carbonate or bicarbonate salts.Such salts react with acid to generate carbon dioxide and assist in foamdevelopment. When a surface is first wiped by an acidic or basicsubstance, and then wiped by the side having an opposite pHclassification, the neutralization reaction that occurs forms carbondioxide and assists in the development of foam.

In an example of surface-specific use, the application side 15 mayinclude an acidic system for use on surfaces best cleaned under acidicconditions, such as brass, copper, and other metals, or for use inremoving an appropriate substance from a surface, such as removingmetal, rust, or hard water staining from glass. The reactive side 20 isthen wiped on the surface to complete the cleaning and neutralize theacid.

In another example of a surface-specific use, the application side 15includes a basic system for use on surfaces best cleaned under basicconditions, such as ceramics, glass, and some plastics and coatings. Abasic system is particularly useful for removing grease and greasyresidues. The reactive side 20 is then wiped on the surface to completethe cleaning and neutralize the base. These examples make a universaland multi-functional applicator 10.

In another example, isocyanurate or any other source of sodiumhypochlorite is disposed in dry form on one side of the applicator 10,and a peroxide/surfactant blend is disposed on the other side of theapplicator 10 or in a bladder 60. The combination of these substancesgenerates oxygen, causing the surfactant to foam.

A foaming surfactant may be defined as one preferably having a foamheight greater than 10 mm when measured according to the Ross-Milesmethod in the case of a solution including 0.02% by weight of surfactant(active substance) in distilled water at 25° C. Examples of suchsurfactants include foaming anionic surfactants. Exemplary foaminganionic surfactants include alkyl phosphates such as sodium laurylphosphate; alkyl taurates such as sodium methyl palmitoyl taurate;sulfosuccinates such as cocoyl sulfosuccinate; alkyl sulphates such astriethanolamine lauryl sulfate; alkyl ether sulfates such as sodiumlauryl sulphate; and alkyl ether carboxylates such as alkyloxy sodiumdecyl ether carboxylate. The foaming surfactant may also be non-ionic.Exemplary non-ionic foaming surfactants include polyglyceryl alkylethers such as polyglycerolated dodecanediol and alkylglucosides such asdodecyl glucoside. The surfactant may also be cationic. Examples ofcationic foaming surfactants include to amine oxides and quaternaryammonium salts such as polyquaternium 22. Exemplary amphoteric foamingsurfactants include disodium cocoamphodiacetate, cocamidopropylbetaine,and cocobetaine.

(9) Precipitation reaction. Enhanced cleaning may be achieved by in-situgeneration of an abrasive substance. In this aspect of the presentinvention, the user may decide whether or not the cleaning applicator isused as an abrasive cleaning article or a non-abrasive cleaning article.For example, one side of the applicator 10 may include an aqueoussolution of a soluble salt. The other side of the applicator 10 includesa solution of a second soluble salt selected such that the combinationof the first soluble salt solution with the second soluble salt solutioncreates an insoluble precipitate. In one exemplary aspect, theapplication side 15 of the applicator 10 includes a solution of asoluble calcium salt such as calcium chloride. The reactive side 20 ofthe applicator 10 includes a solution of a soluble carbonate salt suchas sodium carbonate. When the application side 15 of the applicator 10is wiped across the surface a layer of calcium chloride solution isdeposited on the target surface. When the applicator 10 is wiped overthe surface using the reactive side 20 of the applicator 10, aninsoluble precipitate of calcium carbonate is formed. This insolubleprecipitate serves as an abrasive agent. Either side of the applicator10 may be used independently as a non-abrasive cleaning implement. It isonly when one side and then the other side is used that an abrasivecleaning implement is achieved.

In another aspect of the present invention, one of the substances may bepresent in solid form on the applicator 10. The specific salts areselected such that an insoluble precipitate may be formed. The salts maybe employed in conjunction with surfactants and/or any other cleaningformulations. The salts and surfactant are selected such thatinteraction between either of the salts and the surfactant does notdeactivate the surfactant. In one exemplary aspect, calcium chloride isused as one of the salts, and the surfactant is preferably selected froma non-ionic or cationic surfactant to avoid precipitation of the calciumsalt with the surfactant. As another example, the combination of sodiumlauryl sulfate and soluble calcium salts will react to form calciumlauryl sulfate such that the surfactant properties of the originalsodium lauryl sulfate will be lost.

As described above, the second cleaning or treating scheme enables theease of application for the completion of task chemistry: theapplication and reactive sides 15, 20 include complementary substancesthat produce more effective cleaning or treatment results if appliedsequentially rather than together.

In one exemplary aspect of the present invention, the applicator 10 maybe used to apply a resoil preventative. The resoil preventative makesthe cleaning task more effective by increasing the time betweencleanings. Resoil preventatives, however, typically interfere with theeffectiveness of cleaning substances. When resoil preventatives and acleaning substance are resident in the same formulation, the cleaningtask requires more mechanical energy (such as work by the user) orcontact time with the surface to clean as well as formulas that do nothave the resoil preventative. In a specific example of this aspect,application of an insect repellent after cleaning a surface keeps thecleaned surface cleaner longer because insects soil surfaces andintroduce microbial organisms that contaminate clean surfaces.

The invention has been described with reference to various specific andillustrative aspects and techniques. However, it should be understoodthat many variations and modifications may be made while remainingwithin the spirit and scope of the invention.

Accordingly, this invention is intended to embrace all suchalternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

1. An applicator for applying a substance, the applicator comprising anapplication side and an opposed reactive side, the application sideincluding an application substance and the reactive side including areaction substance, wherein the application and reaction substancesreact with each other when the application and reactive sides of theapplicator are sequentially wiped on a target surface.
 2. The applicatorof claim 1, wherein the application and reactive sides are separated byan interior space.
 3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicationsubstance is disposed in a bladder associated with the application side.4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the reaction substance is disposedin a bladder associated with the reactive side.
 5. The applicator ofclaim 1, wherein the applicator is a mitt.
 6. The applicator of claim 1,wherein the applicator is a wipe.
 7. The applicator of claim 1, whereinone of the application and reactive sides includes a base sheet and abarrier layer.
 8. The applicator of claim 1, wherein each of theapplication and reactive sides includes a base sheet and a barrierlayer.
 9. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the application substanceis an acid, and wherein the reaction substance is a base.
 10. Theapplicator of claim 1, wherein the application substance is a cleaningsubstance and wherein the reaction substance is a fragrance ingredient.11. The applicator of claim 10, wherein the cleaning substance is one ofa bleach, an oxidation agent, a reduction agent, and an anti-microbialagent.
 12. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the application substanceis a bleaching compound, and wherein the reaction substance is a bleachactivator.
 13. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the applicationsubstance is a bleaching compound, and wherein the reaction substance isa pH-adjusting agent.
 14. The applicator of claim 1, wherein theapplication substance is sodium chloride, and wherein the reactionsubstance is an oxidizing agent.
 15. The applicator of claim 1, whereinthe application substance is sodium chlorite, and wherein the reactionsubstance activates the sodium chlorite.
 16. The applicator of claim 1,wherein the application substance is sodium hypochlorite, and whereinthe reaction substance activates the sodium hypochlorite.
 17. Theapplicator of claim 1, wherein the application substance is a bleachingcompound, and wherein the reaction substance is a colorant.
 18. Theapplicator of claim 1, wherein the application substance is a firstepoxy reactant, wherein the reaction substance is a second epoxyreactant, and wherein the first and second epoxy reactants, whencombined, form an epoxy.
 19. The applicator of claim 1, wherein theapplication substance is a combination of two complementary epoxyreactants, and wherein the reaction substance is an epoxy catalyst. 20.The applicator of claim 1, wherein the application substance is acombination of a base and a surfactant, and wherein the reactionsubstance is an acid.
 21. The applicator of claim 1, wherein theapplication substance is a combination of an acid and a surfactant, andwherein the reaction substance is a base.
 22. The applicator of claim 1,wherein the application substance is a first precipitation reactant,wherein the reaction substance is a second precipitation reactant, andwherein the first and second precipitation reactants, when combined,form a precipitant.
 23. The applicator of claim 22, wherein the firstprecipitation reactant is adapted to have a cleaning effect when usedwithout combination with the second precipitation reactant.
 24. Theapplicator of claim 22, wherein the second precipitation reactant isadapted to have a cleaning effect when used without combination with thefirst precipitation reactant.
 25. An applicator for applying asubstance, the applicator comprising an application side and an opposedreactive side, the application side including an application substanceand the reactive side including a reaction substance, wherein theapplication substance is deposited on a target surface, and wherein thereaction substance supplements the action of the application substancewhen the application and reactive sides of the applicator aresequentially wiped on the target surface.
 26. The applicator of claim25, wherein the application and reaction substances are complementary.27. The applicator of claim 25, wherein the reaction substance isdeposited on the target surface.
 28. The applicator of claim 25, whereinthe application substance is a cleaning substance, and wherein thereaction substance is a resoil preventative.
 29. The applicator of claim28, wherein the resoil preventative is an insect repellant.
 30. Anapplicator for applying a substance, the applicator comprising anapplication side and an opposed reactive side, the application sideincluding an application substance and the reactive side including areaction substance, wherein the application and reaction substances aredeposited on a target surface when the application and reactive sides ofthe applicator are sequentially wiped on the target surface.
 31. Theapplicator of claim 30, wherein the application and reaction substancesare reactive substances.
 32. The applicator of claim 30, wherein theapplication and reaction substances are complementary substances.
 33. Amethod for treating a target surface, the method comprising: contactingthe target surface with an application side of an applicator includingan application substance, whereby the application substance is depositedonto the target surface; and thereafter contacting the target surfacewith a reactive side of the applicator including a reaction substance,whereby the reaction substance reacts with the application substance.34. The method of claim 33, whereby the reaction substance is depositedonto the target surface.